Stayin’ Alive with Ken Jeong

Actor and comedian Ken Jeong made us laugh out loud in The Hangover II and last season’s Community. Here, the funnyman and physician (Google it if you don’t believe us) shows his chops in a wickedly funny video on how to perform hands-only CPR to the beat of Stayin’ Alive.

 

Want more Jeong? Check out this behind-the-scenes video.

Cruelty-Free Beauty

It’s time to go orange! April is the ASPCA’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, and orange is the  American Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty’s signature color for the month-long affair. We all love out pets, and it’s unthinkable to imagine anybody hurting a furry friend. Unfortunately, millions upon millions of animals are mistreated and abused each year, and we must do what we can to aide our barking buddies, purring pals and all other creatures, great and small.

While browsing PürMinerals.com for your shopping and blogging needs, have you ever noticed the heart-shaped bunny at the bottom of the site?  If not, scroll down and take a look. That adorable logo is PETA’s cruelty-free stamp of approval, meaning Pür Minerals does not test its products on animals.

Did you know that animal testing is not required for cosmetics, but over one million animals are still subjected to experimentation every year? The FDA urges manufacturers to conduct all necessary tests to prove a product is safe, but using animals is not mandatory. The ASPCA encourages scientists to adopt the three R’s when planning research:   

Reduce the number of animals used in an experiment. Pür uses no animals to test its products.

Refine the quality of life for animals that must be tested on, making sure they have comfortable, safe and pleasant living accommodations.

Replace using our furry friends with computer models, in-vitro cell cultures, synthetic membranes and human studies when possible. In Pür’s case, we’ve eliminated any need to use animals to test our skincare and cosmetics.

Over 700 companies have committed to Caring Consumer’s humane testing policies. Not all skincare companies offer cruelty-free products, but you can be assured that when using any of our makeup, moisturizers, washes and treatments, no animals were used for experiments.

What else can you do to help animals in need during Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month? Go to the ASPCA’s website for more info on donations, adopting/rescuing a pet and other ways to go orange! You can also contact your local Humane Society location. For more information about companies that do not test on animals, tips on cruelty-free living, and animal testing in general, click the little PETA bunny and visit CaringConsumer.com.

Eat for a Healthy Complexion

We’ve all heard the age-old adage “you are what you eat”—that folksy caveat about the impact of dietary choices on the body. But could this kernel of conventional wisdom also apply to the skin? According to skin care experts who view the skin as the body’s largest organ (you read correctly), the answer is a resounding “yes”. So, is it possible to eat your way to fewer lines or blemishes? Maybe not entirely, but you can certainly give your skin a push in the right direction. Here’s a look at the top skin smart contenders vying for a spot in your shopping list.

Avocado
A powerhouse of vitamins and monounsaturated fats—the “good” fat shown to help lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol—avocados help nourish the body’s cells and prevent moisture loss. For your skin, that translates to healthy hydration, which can mean fewer visible lines and wrinkles down the road.

Salmon
Salmon is a dieter favorite for a reason—it’s one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids on earth. Omega-3s have been shown to boost brain function, lower triglyceride and VLDL cholesterol levels and enhance immunity. In the skin, omega-3s help lock in moisture and may even aid recovery from UV exposure, according to recent studies.

Beans
Good news for vegetarians and chili fans—the legumes you love also love your skin. (Try saying that five times real fast.) Rich in isoflavones—powerful antioxidants—beans help ward off the free radical damage largely blamed for the appearance of premature lines and wrinkles.

Grapes
Another skin care favorite, grapes—along with blueberries and pomegranates—are an excellent source of antioxidants known as polyphenols. Like isoflavones, polyphenols help fight damaging free radicals in the body and skin. However, this berry-bound antioxidant may also help improve elasticity in the skin by nourishing strong collagen.